Thriving in College with ADHD Accommodations and Strategies to Help Manage Your Disorder

Written by: Shannon Lee, www.affordablecollegeonline.org

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a long-term condition that results in trouble concentrating. It can be accompanied by hyperactivity and impulsive behavior. College is filled with new experiences in a student’s academic, personal and professional life. This can lead to amplified challenges for college students with ADHD.

The academic difficulties and new social pressures are hard enough to manage for the typical student who doesn’t have ADHD. Add ADHD to the mix, and it’s no wonder students with this condition may struggle to keep up with challenging coursework or avoid getting into trouble during social events. But with a little bit of help, self-awareness and a desire to learn, students with ADHD can grow and thrive in the college setting.

This guide will look at how college students with ADHD can accomplish as much as any other student by providing a variety of strategies and tips as well as detailing on-campus resources.

Living with ADHD on Campus

College is a tremendous investment in time, money and effort. And while the college years might hold additional challenges for those with ADHD, these students should by no means avoid the experience. Success is more likely to come to those who are well informed, so it's important to keep certain things in mind when choosing a school and starting the educational journey.

Choosing a School

"Colleges, relative to high schools, place a lot more responsibility on students to manage their course schedules, study on their own with fewer assignments or faculty oversight, and to take more initiative to build relationships with faculty and to seek help when needed," says Shirag Shemmassian, Ph.D., a college admissions expert. "Therefore, beyond the usual considerations for all students starting their college career (e.g., school prestige, location, financial aid, major offerings, culture, diversity), students with ADHD should make every effort to ensure that they will be able to thrive at their chosen institution with the proper accommodations and organizational skills."

One way aspiring students can ensure that they thrive at their chosen school is to identify their learning style. Students can do this with the help of a school counselor who may even be able to give them tips on how to study effectively. A student's learning style can also come into play in terms of class size and how the school year is divided. For example, students with ADHD may want to consider a school that offers small classes to both underclassmen and upperclassmen to benefit from more individualized attention. Semesters, as opposed to quarters, should also be considered when choosing a school as this can directly affect the intensity of the courses.

Shemmassian also suggests students look into how a school handles accommodations, stating it’s important for students to contact a school’s office for students with disabilities (OSD) to confirm they have the resources necessary for them to succeed.

"While colleges typically offer more robust accommodations than high schools, this may not be the same in every high school/college comparison, so do your research, preferably before you agree to attend a particular institution," he says.

Once on Campus

After arriving on campus, new students should keep the following pointers in mind:

Be prepared to advocate. Students with ADHD are usually entitled to reasonable accommodations on campus. However, the burden is on the student to identify what these accommodations are, to request the accommodations and to provide the information necessary to substantiate the request.
Have realistic expectations. Getting all As the first semester isn’t easy for anyone and participating in extracurricular activities can add to the load. Students may want to take it slow at first in order to keep their focus on completing their program.
Stay positive. It’s important to remember that college success comes to those who put forth the effort, regardless of a student’s specific circumstances. Students with ADHD can certainly achieve their academic goals with right mindset.

Most of all, Shemmassian wants to remind students that "More so than being a 'student with ADHD,' you're an individual with the same opportunities and achievement potential as anyone else." By taking advantage of the available resources and accommodations, students with ADHD can rest assured that they are not alone on their academic journey.

Accommodations for Students with ADHD

A college or university that receives federal funding is required to provide accommodations to students with disabilities as long as those students meet certain guidelines in accordance with federal law. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 prohibit the discrimination on the basis of a student’s disability. These laws also require colleges and universities to take steps to allow students with disabilities to have the same academic opportunities as their non-disabled peers. This is straightforward in theory, but a bit more complex in practice in two primary ways.

First, the student must have a disability that warrants a special accommodation. An official diagnosis of ADHD by itself may not always be enough for a school to be legally required to provide an accommodation. The student must show that the ADHD is severe enough to have a notable impact on their ability to learn.

Second, the student must provide sufficient evidence that the accommodation being requested is justified. What qualifies as sufficient evidence will depend on the school. For instance, proof that a student received accommodations in high school for his or her ADHD, such as with an IEP or Section 504, may not be enough. Students may also need to provide a doctor’s diagnosis, a doctor’s recommendation for necessary accommodations and complete a battery of assessments for the school.

"The accommodations available to students with ADHD depend on their specific needs, usually highlighted by the mental health or education professional who conducted their psychoeducational assessment," Shemmassian points out. "In addition, having an open and honest conversation with the OSD staff member will allow students with ADHD to receive the right support."

What is the right support? It might include the following:

Reduced class load
Higher priority for class registration
Ability to record lectures with an audio recorder
Assistance with taking notes in class with an assigned notetaker
A private room in which to take tests
Reading assistance
Extra time to take tests
Having any oral classroom instructions provided in written form
Alternative testing formats